U.S. patent application number 12/621466 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-23 for touchscreen keyboard overlay.
Invention is credited to Leslie Earle Dellinger, Zivthan Dubrovsky, Clark William Martin.
Application Number | 20100238119 12/621466 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42737111 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100238119 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dubrovsky; Zivthan ; et
al. |
September 23, 2010 |
Touchscreen Keyboard Overlay
Abstract
An external cover for a tablet smartphone with a flat
touchscreen includes a rear clamshell formed of deformable plastic
material that receives and surrounds the tablet, and a rim that
resiliently clips the rear clamshell to the tablet. A hinge blister
and intervening web forms a two degree of freedom hinge with a
form-fitting front clamshell that can be freely lifted and dropped
on the touchscreen but indexes to it, can be locked in place with a
clip that readily engages and disengages from a docking port at the
bottom of the tablet, and that is strengthened by an arch shaped
rim. A planar sheet, formed of dielectric plastic, that covers the
entirety of the flat touchscreen, is slightly suspended above to
create an air gap, and is formed in a shape and thickness that
substantially transmits the shape of a capacitive finger contact
patch through the planar sheet to the touchscreen when the sheet is
pushed down to the touchscreen. A keyboard may be formed in, on, or
with the planar sheet in a location corresponding to the location
of a virtual keyboard appearing on the touchscreen.
Inventors: |
Dubrovsky; Zivthan;
(Lexington, MA) ; Dellinger; Leslie Earle; (Acton,
MA) ; Martin; Clark William; (Acton, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Lawrence A. Aaronson, P.C.;Lawrence A. Aaronson
12850 Highway 9, Suite #600 PMB 338
Alpharetta
GA
30004
US
|
Family ID: |
42737111 |
Appl. No.: |
12/621466 |
Filed: |
November 18, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61161395 |
Mar 18, 2009 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/169 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/04886 20130101;
G06F 1/1626 20130101; G06F 2200/1633 20130101; G06F 2203/04809
20130101; G06F 3/0202 20130101; G06F 2200/1634 20130101; G06F
1/1643 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/169 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/02 20060101
G06F003/02 |
Claims
1. An external cover for a monolithic tablet smartphone formed as a
smoothed tablet with a flat touchscreen on a front surface thereof
and a docking port at a bottom portion of a rounded peripheral side
wall of the smoothed tablet, comprising: a rear clamshell formed of
deformable plastic material that receives and surrounds a rear
surface and a portion of a peripheral side wall of the smoothed
tablet, including: a form-fitting rear surface that matches the
shape of the rear of the rounded tablet, a rim extending about the
periphery of the form fitting rear surface to a height greater than
1/2 of the height of the peripheral side wall to deform and
resiliently clip the rear clamshell to the smoothed tablet a hinge
blister located at the top of the rear surface, including a first
hinge mechanism having a first degree of freedom; a front clamshell
that receives and surrounds the front surface of the smoothed
tablet, including: a form fitting front rim portion that matches
the shape of a front portion of the peripheral side wall, to a
height less than 1/2 of the height of the peripheral side wall, to
be freely lifted and dropped on the front surface of the smoothed
tablet an arch shaped rim portion extending from the form fitting
front rim portion, having an arch shaped cross section extending
about substantially the periphery of the front clamshell; a planar
sheet, formed of dielectric plastic, that covers the entirety of
the flat touchscreen and is joined to the arch shaped rim portion,
and being formed in a shape and thickness that substantially
transmits the shape of a capacitive finger contact patch through
the planar sheet to the touchscreen, a locking clip formed at a
bottom portion of the second rim portion proximate the location of
the docking port, that engages with a cavity in the docking port
and is deformable to disengage the front clamshell from the
smoothed tablet a second hinge mechanism having a second degree of
freedom; and a substantially rigid linking member that forms a
reversible wrapping linkage by connecting the first and second
hinged mechanisms.
2. The external cover according to claim 1, wherein the planar
sheet is transparent polycarbonate of substantially 20/1000 minimum
thickness.
3. The external cover according to claim 1, wherein the planar
sheet comprises, formed therein: a landscape form keyboard shape
formed in the polycarbonate planar sheet, including key target
forms located in positions on the touchscreen indexed individually
to corresponding keys of a virtual landscape keyboard displayed on
the touchscreen underneath the polycarbonate planar sheet, such
that letter and symbol indicia of the keyboard are displayed
through the key target forms.
4. The external cover according to claim 3, including at least one
key target form located in a positions on the touchscreen indexed
to more than one corresponding key of more than one virtual
landscape keyboard displayable on the touchscreen underneath the
polycarbonate planar sheet, such that a same key target form
extends across different letter and symbol indicia of different
keyboards displayable through the key target form.
5. The external cover according to claim 3, wherein the key target
form is an elongated channel-shaped cavity, having a minimum
thickness substantially in the center thereof substantially
transmits the shape of a capacitive finger contact patch through
the planar sheet to the touchscreen, and walls surrounding the
minimum thickness that attenuate the edges of the shape of a
capacitive contact patch through the planar sheet to the touch
screen.
6. The external cover according to claim 3, wherein the key target
form is a key shape having a minimum thickness substantially in the
center thereof that substantially transmits the shape of a
capacitive finger contact patch through the key shape, surrounded
by a partial air gap that attenuate the edges of the shape of a
capacitive contact patch through the planar sheet to the touch
screen.
7. The external cover according to claim 6, wherein a snap dome
mechanism intervenes between the key shape and substantially
transmits the shape of a capacitive finger contact patch
therethrough.
8. An external cover for a monolithic tablet smartphone formed as a
smoothed tablet with a flat multitouch touchscreen on a front
surface thereof and a docking port at a bottom portion of a rounded
peripheral side wall of the smoothed tablet, comprising: a flexible
keyboard panel, with sufficient flexibility to flatten to and
partially cover the multitouch capacitive touchscreen, that
flattens to and partially covers the portion of the touchscreen in
the portion where a keyboard appears when typing applications are
in use, the panel integrates with the form of a sleeve used to
house the phone and support the panel, wherein the panel does not
obscure a typing area of the touchscreen where letters appear, the
panel including: button elements that cover each button and
approximate the shape of each button in the on-screen virtual
keyboard, the button elements being sufficiently raised from the
surface to permit key travel in the manner of membrane keyboards,
biased up by elastomer to return after travelling down when
pressed, finger actuation of the buttons activating key presses of
keys of a virtual keyboard of the capacitive touch panel when there
is a tactile press and travel down to the touchscreen, activating
coordinates on the touchscreen panel and thereby the virtual
keyboard button, wherein the cover covers the entire touchscreen
excepting a window where type appears as it is typed, and after
keyboard in place over the panel, typing is done in two hands with
both thumbs on a dome-switch keyboard, preferably with enough
detent bend in the upward bias to click over when pressed.
9. A keyboard overlay for a monolithic tablet smartphone formed as
a smoothed tablet with a flat touchscreen on a front surface
thereof, comprising: a front clamshell that receives and surrounds
the front surface of the smoothed tablet, including, including a
form fitting front rim portion that matches the shape of a front
portion of the peripheral side wall and is readily lifted and
placed on the front surface of the smoothed tablet, a planar sheet,
formed of dielectric plastic, that covers the entirety of the flat
touchscreen and is joined to the form fitting front rim portion,
and formed in a shape and thickness that substantially transmits
the shape of a capacitive finger contact patch through the planar
sheet to the touchscreen, a landscape form keyboard shape formed in
the planar sheet, including key target forms located in positions
on the touchscreen indexed individually to corresponding keys of a
virtual landscape keyboard displayed on the touchscreen underneath
the polycarbonate planar sheet, such that letter and symbol indicia
of the keyboard are displayed through the key target forms, each
key target form being an elongated channel-shaped cavity, having a
minimum thickness substantially in the center thereof substantially
transmits the shape of a capacitive finger contact patch through
the planar sheet to the touchscreen, and walls surrounding the
minimum thickness that attenuate the edges of the shape of a
capacitive contact patch through the planar sheet to the touch
screen, and including at least one key target form located in a
positions on the touchscreen indexed to more than one corresponding
key of more than one virtual landscape keyboard displayable on the
touchscreen underneath the polycarbonate planar sheet, such that a
same key target form extends across different letter and symbol
indicia of different keyboards displayable through the key target
form.
Description
[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0002] This application claims priority to, and incorporates herein
by reference the entirety of the disclosure of, U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 61/161,395, entitled "Touchscreen Phone
Keyboard Overlay with Key Response", filed Mar. 18, 2009, EFS ID
4994121.
BACKGROUND
[0003] On Mar. 17, 2009, Apple Computer announced iPhone OS 3.0, an
operating system for the iPhone smartphone. Among various
enhancements to the previous operating system was the new
availability of a large, landscape-orientation touch keyboard
(capacitive touchscreen with virtual keyboard) to certain
applications (see the last Figure of this application).
[0004] A virtual keyboard had previously only been available to the
phone's Internet browser, to fill in short fields and URLs and the
like. The landscape orientation of this virtual keyboard and
availability to other applications (Email, notes) is likely to be
more useful for typing lengthy text passages (such as emails), but
still has the basic weakness of a consumer or media oriented
touchscreen phone--no tactile or haptic feedback, which creates
errors in typing. Touch typing and rapid typing based on learned
motor skills is not as fast as on, for example, a "Blackberry" or
any of a host of phones with built-in mechanical keyboard
panels.
[0005] Putting a slide or fold out or flip out keyboard panel in a
monolithic tablet phone such as an iPhone would change the product
class from primarily touchscreen interaction, and could adversely
affect the reliability, industrial design, convenience, and user
interface model. The primary mode of user interaction of
touchscreen graphical user interface elements could readily be
confused by a second input device in the form of a traditional flip
out or slide mechanical keyboard. The mechanical and electrical
elements of the keyboard make the phone larger, heavier, more
complicated, more likely to require repair. No longer slim, sleek,
or perceived to be light, no longer with a holistic user interface
model where there is one consistent way to interact with the
operating system, graphical user interface, and core applications,
with a keyboard mechanism the elegant touchscreen "iPhone" would be
just another phone festooned with confusing buttons and
controls.
[0006] One market approach to fixing this shortcoming of the flat
panel touchscreen phone--no feedback or control for typing--was to
introduce haptic feedback, but in another inadequate way, which was
abandoned by late 2009. With the Blackberry.TM. Storm.TM.,
preceding iPhone's OS 3.0 by several months, the entire touchscreen
panel is the key pressed (once central sensor), so it moves and
clicks with each virtual key pressed. A problem is that there is no
way to start pressing one key before the previous key is released
(since they are effectively the same key). Each "key" is pressed
serially while one waits for the entire screen to return from the
previous press. This constitutes haptic feedback, but slow.
[0007] Earlier in the history of the touchscreen phone, Sony
Corporation had experimented with various phones that would permit
a rigid panel to cover part of a touchscreen during phone use, to
be flipped off or away for stylus based access to the touchscreen
or even for typing on the flipped cover. Variations include a one
or two sided keyboard panel (P800, P900 each one sided, P910i two).
These panels were mechanically integrated and sometimes
electronically wired into the phone and in some cases may have had
pass through buttons to press on the panel.
[0008] This generally was a failed concept--the lines of the phone
cannot be maintained, the orientation doesn't permit reliable thumb
typing on a full QWERTY keyboard, the user interface changes
changing with the flip down or up or stylus use. The buttons are
not believed to be pass-through, but simply on the flip rigid panel
and connected via the hinge.
[0009] Pre-OS 3.0, in mid 2008, a keyboard panel called "my touch
keys" made a brief appearance in the market. This panel was a
single sheet overlay with complete through-holes where one
instantiation of the virtual keyboard appeared.
[0010] This panel permitted use of the capacitive touchscreen and
included pass-through holes only for a portrait mode keyboard. It
was affixed by adhesive or static, could not be stowed, and the
mechanism for tactile feedback is merely holes that guide the
fingers to the positions of the keys on the virtual keyboard. There
is tactile feedback in a broad sense but no key response in a
traditional sense. This is a feedback mechanism that has to be
newly learned.
[0011] Moreover, this panel was provided only for the small
portrait mode keyboard. Before the iPhone OS 3.0 software revision
was introduced, the virtual landscape keyboard was available only
for entering URLs, and not available to the most useful
applications (prose applications like note taking, email), and
generally could not be used for typing prose.
SUMMARY
[0012] One aspect of the present invention, is an external cover
for a monolithic tablet smartphone formed as a smoothed tablet with
a flat touchscreen on a front surface thereof and a docking port at
a bottom portion of a rounded peripheral side wall of the smoothed
tablet.
[0013] The cover includes a rear clamshell formed of deformable
plastic material that receives and surrounds a rear surface and a
portion of a peripheral side wall of the smoothed tablet. This rear
clamshell includes a form-fitting rear surface that matches the
shape of the rear of the rounded tablet. A rim extends about the
periphery of the form fitting rear surface to a height greater than
1/2 of the height of the peripheral side wall. In this manner, the
rear clamshell can deform and resiliently clip the rear clamshell
to the smoothed tablet. A hinge blister located at the top of the
rear surface includes a first hinge mechanism having a first degree
of freedom.
[0014] The shape of the rim more than half of the curved side wall
permits the rear clamshell to flex enough to clip over/into the
rounded edges of the side of the tablet smartphone and be held by
the curve. The blister hinge, which separates the first axis from
the clamshell itself, is the first part of a mechanism that permits
the front clamshell to not only close to the front surface of the
touchscreen, but to form an U-frame shape that holds the phone an
its screen vertical or horizontal with respect to a flat surface
(e.g., for use as an unheld viewing screen).
[0015] The cover also includes the front clamshell that receives
and surrounds the front surface of the smoothed tablet. The front
clam shell also has a rim, but in this case a form fitting front
rim portion that matches the shape of a front portion of the
peripheral side wall, to a height less than 1/2 of the height of
the peripheral side wall, to be freely lifted and dropped on the
front surface of the smoothed tablet but indexed to it as the front
rim portion engages the entire upper side wall near the front
surface. The front clam shell does not clip or snap to the tablet
smartphone.
[0016] To provide structural strength in ordinary use, the form
fitting front rim extends into or joins an arch shaped rim portion
extending from the form fitting front rim portion. An arch shaped
cross section extends about substantially the periphery of the
front clamshell, giving the front clamshell structural strength and
helping the front clamshell resist twisting and other deformations.
The rear clamshell, on the other hand, resists such deformation by
closely conforming to the rear of the tablet smartphone.
[0017] The front clamshell includes a planar sheet, formed of
dielectric plastic (e.g., transparent or smoked polycarbonate),
that covers the entirety of the flat touchscreen and is joined to
the arch shaped rim portion (again, helping maintain stiffness and
shape). The planar sheet is formed in a shape and thickness that
substantially transmits the shape of a capacitive finger contact
patch through the planar sheet to the touchscreen. This can be a
simple sheet of appropriate thickness, but can also form a molded
prose keyboard, a movable prose keyboard, or another kind of molded
or moving physical user interface such as a guide, clicker, wheel,
rocker, or the like. "Prose" keyboard as used herein indicates a
QWERTY or other keyboard capable of typing individual letters in a
single press, by and large actual QWERTY keyboards, international
variations such as AZERTY and Asian IME keyboards, and thereby
capable of reasonably composing prose passages--this excludes
typical telephone text messaging and predictive keyboard strategies
such as "T9".
[0018] One kind of molded prose keyboard includes key target forms
in the shape of channels or troughs. The bottom of the trough
transmits a finger capacitive contact patch, and the walls of the
trough attenuates the finger contact patch at the edge (which
discourages missing the virtual key intended and activating the
neighboring virtual key).
[0019] One kind of mechanical prose keyboard includes key target
forms in the shape of keyboard keys. In this case, the keys can be
mounted resiliently or with other travel mechanism, and an air gap
can provide the attenuation at the edge of the contact patch.
Optionally, a clicking mechanism or snap dome may be part of the
stack assembly from front planar sheet to touchscreen. Generally, a
keyboard of minimum planar thickness may be suspended above the
touch screen so that there is both some travel of the keyboard
(mostly due to flexing). An additional benefit is that dragging a
finger lightly over key borders, barriers, or walls doesn't give a
false capacitive triggeer. Some light pressing is needed to close
the air gap, which provides some tactile response.
[0020] The inclusion of a prose keyboard form renders the device
highly specialized, and a landscape device would not permit
portrait mode prose typing (although a second front clamshell or
cover could be switched in). A portrait mode device would have its
prose keyboard and window arranged for the portrait mode prose
keyboard, but would also be hinged and lockable with respect to the
sides discussed above (e.g., supported from and lockable along long
sides of the phone).
[0021] The front clamshell has a locking clip formed at a bottom
portion of the second rim portion proximate the location of the
docking port, that engages with a cavity in the docking port and is
deformable to disengage the front clamshell from the smoothed
tablet. The locking clip may alternatively have a locking hinge
mechanism, or engage a cavity or other engaging member formed in
the rear clamshell.
[0022] At the top of the front claim shell, a second hinge
mechanism having a second degree of freedom is located. A
substantially rigid linking member that forms a reversible wrapping
linkage by connecting the first and second hinged mechanisms.
Wrapping, in this context, indicates that the front clam shell can
be wrapped or swung parallel to the front as well as to the back of
the body of the tablet smartphone, which, as noted, lets the
external cover act as a stand.
[0023] In the case of a capacitive multitouch panel (not that
touchpanels discussed herein generally include an LCD, OLED, e-ink
or other such display), even though a virtual keyboard may not be
designed to be used by holding two keys at once, providing the
virtual keyboard can mean a user can more easily hold SHIFT while
typing to capitalize letters, thus making for more natural
typing.
[0024] These examples form a prose keyboard, and are useful in
landscape mode, flip to the back of the phone, actuate a multitouch
capacitive panel, permit viewing a virtual prose keyboard
therethrough or replicate the virtual keyboard.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the present
invention, as it attaches to a tablet shaped smartphone.
[0026] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
present invention, as attached to a tablet shaped smartphone, in an
open position.
[0027] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
present invention, as attached to a tablet shaped smartphone, in a
closed position.
[0028] FIG. 3A is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the
present invention, along line R-R of FIG. 2B.
[0029] FIG. 3B is a magnified cross sectional view of a rim and
arch shape shown in FIG. 3C, along line S-S of FIG. 2B.
[0030] FIG. 3C is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the
present invention, along line S-S of FIG. 2B.
[0031] FIG. 4 is a set of orthogonal views of one embodiment of the
present invention, showing top, front, side, rear, and bottom
sides.
[0032] FIGS. 5A-5C are a perspective views of a hinge member or web
of one embodiment of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 6 is a side view of one embodiment of the present
invention, in a portrait display "stand" mode.
[0034] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
present invention, in a portrait display "stand" mode.
[0035] FIG. 7B is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
present invention, in a landscape display "stand" mode.
[0036] FIGS. 8A-8G is a series of side schematic views of one
embodiment of the present invention, transitioning from open to
closed positions, including the A-frame or U-frame position for
portrait or landscape "stand" mode.
[0037] FIGS. 9A-9D is a series of side schematic views showing
various keyboard techniques for localizing a user's finger more
accurately.
[0038] FIGS. 10A-10D show alternative overlays for virtual input
interface elements, including a prose keyboard, a calculator
keyboard, a handheld game console input panel, and one common
MP3player input panel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0039] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a touchscreen
(virtual) keyboard overlay 100 of the present invention, as it
attaches to a tablet shaped smartphone. FIG. 2A is a perspective
view of the touchscreen (virtual) keyboard overlay 100 of the
present invention, as attached to a tablet shaped smartphone SP, in
an open position after being inserted. FIG. 2B is a perspective
view a touchscreen (virtual) keyboard overlay 100 of the present
invention, as attached to a tablet shaped smartphone SP, in a
closed position, as snapped shut. FIG. 4 provides reference for
top, front, rear, side (back) and bottom sides discussed herein
(which are considered the same for the smartphone SP and the
overlay device 100.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 1, the smartphone SP may be clipped into
the touchscreen (virtual) keyboard overlay 100 (alternatively,
adhered by a pad at the bottom of the overlay's lower clamshell).
Referring to FIG. 1, in the context of a monolithic tablet shaped
smartphone SP including no mechanical QWERTY keyboard of any
kind--no slide out, no flip open, no fold out, no "candy bar"
keyboard--the present embodiment and its variations can be
described as a flexible or partially flexible keyboard panel 300,
made of sufficient amounts of elastomer or with sufficient
flexibility or hinges 400, to (1) flatten to and partially cover
the portion of a capacitive touchscreen TS, particularly an
iPhone.TM. style multitouch capacitive touchscreen TS, in the
portion where a landscape keyboard VKB appears when typing
applications are in use and (2) flexibly or via hinges flip away
all the way to the opposite side of the phone SP, where it
integrates with the form and lines of a casing, housing, sleeve,
jacket 200 used to house the phone and support the hinge 400 and
via that, the keyboard panel 300. A front clamshell 300 may, in the
same manner, flip away all the way to the opposite side of the
phone SP, where it cooperates with the form of the rear clamshell
200 used to house the phone SP and support the hinge 400 and via
that, the keyboard panel 300.
[0041] The panel 300 is transparent and does not obscure the
subwindow SW of the embedded UI--i.e., the typing area where
letters appear VKB. In the prose entry mode, the screen is broken
into a keyboard area with the virtual keyboard VKB and a subwindow
SW that has a smaller graphical display (i.e., the prose entry mode
breaks the display area into a text input area and a smaller
display window). The panel includes button elements or key target
forms 301 that (1) when the panel is flattened in a mounted
position on the touchscreen side, cover each button VKB-B and
approximate the shape of each button VKB-B in the on-screen virtual
keyboard VKB (in some cases, more than one on-screen virtual
keyboard) (2) are or may be sufficiently raised from the surface to
permit key travel in the manner of membrane keyboards, preferably
with air space between the button and the touchscreen TS (3) are or
may be biased up by elastomer around the button rim to return after
travelling down when pressed (4) are or may be substantially
transparent to permit the button identity to be viewed therethrough
(5) have or may have sufficient conductive material therein, either
as a pass-through molded element or as conductive or capacitive
plastic, to permit finger actuation of the button to inherently
activate the corresponding area on the capacitive touch panel TS.
In the case of a mechanical version with key travel, when one
presses the button 301, it does not actuate the virtual keyboard
button until there is a tactile press and travel down to the
touchscreen TS. The electrical connection, conductance, or
capacitance from a finger via the button to the touchscreen TS
activates the coordinates on the touchscreen panel TS (filtered to
recognize a finger contact patch) and thereby the virtual keyboard
button VKB-B underneath.
[0042] A wrapping, unwrapping, and rewrapping in the opposite
direction is ideal, as opposed to hinging a rigid panel. Double
hinging a rigid panel is also preferred. Peeling a banana or a
candy bar is the motion to be emulated. Silicone is known as a
phone protecting cover, and would also provide the appropriate
elastomer properties for elevated membrane key buttons. Doping,
embedding, or double-molding of carbon, graphite, or other
conductive material in the button regions may makes an electrical
connection between finger and keyboard. In addition, transparent
materials with correct electrical properties are known, acrylic or
electrostatic membrane, some rigid. In other words, when the
keyboard panel is wrapped to the touchscreen side (see FIG. 8,
position P1), raised buttons with tactile feedback can be typed on;
when the keyboard is wrapped to the non-touchscreen side (see FIG.
8, position P7), the phone's touchscreen is as it was without the
overlaid keyboard. Multitouch may be conducive to using shift keys
or typing as fast as possible.
[0043] The external cover 100 for a monolithic tablet smartphone SP
formed as a smoothed tablet with a flat touchscreen TS on a front
surface thereof and a docking port DP at a bottom portion of a
rounded peripheral side wall SW of the smoothed tablet.
[0044] FIG. 3A is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the
present invention, along line
[0045] R-R of FIG. 2B. FIG. 3B is a magnified cross sectional view
of a rim and arch shape shown in FIG. 3C, along line S-S of FIG.
2B. FIG. 3C is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the
present invention, along line S-S of FIG. 2B.
[0046] As further shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the cover 100 includes a
rear clamshell 200 formed of deformable plastic material that
receives and surrounds a rear surface RS and a portion of a
peripheral side wall SW of the smoothed tablet. This rear clamshell
includes a form-fitting rear surface 201 that matches the shape of
the rear RS of the rounded tablet. A rim 202 extends about the
periphery of the form fitting rear surface 201 to a height H1
slightly greater than 1/2 of the height of the peripheral side wall
SW. In this manner, the rear clamshell 200 can deform and
resiliently clip the rear clamshell 200 to the smoothed tablet
shape of the smartphone SP. A hinge blister 203 located at the top
of the rear surface 201 includes a first hinge mechanism 204 having
a first degree of freedom (in the form of, e.g., an elongated pin
extending along the top edge, having sufficient surrounding
clearance along the pin to permit a semi-closed cylindrical channel
in a mating plastic web or member 400 to clip thereon and rotate
through at least 160-270 degrees). In an alternative embodiment,
the hinge blister 203 may be adhesively affixed directly to the
body of the smartphone to support the front clamshell directly.
[0047] The shape of the rim 202, with a height H1 more than half of
the curved side wall SW permits the rear clamshell 200 to flex
enough to clip over/into the rounded edges of the side of the
tablet smartphone SP and be held by the curve of the side wall SW.
If the tablet is formed as a truncated oval, the height H1 that is
1/2 of the height of the side wall SW corresponds to half of an
approximate radius of curvature of the side wall SW. In any case,
the form-fitting rim 202 is of sufficient height H1 such the
clipped-on rim 202 has a portion narrower than the maximum
sidewall-to-sidewall width side to side of the smartphone PS.
[0048] The blister hinge 203, which separates the first axis 220 of
the double hinge 204-400-330 from the clamshell 200 itself, is the
first part of a wrapping mechanism that permits the front clamshell
300 to not only close to the front surface of the touchscreen TS,
but to wrap around and form an U-frame shape that holds the phone
PS and its screen vertical (portrait) or horizontal (landscape)
with respect to a flat surface (e.g., for use as an unheld viewing
screen, see FIGS. 7A and 7B).
[0049] The cover 100 also includes the front clamshell 300 that
receives and surrounds the front surface of the smoothed tablet.
The front clam shell 300 also has a rim, but in this case a form
fitting front rim 303 portion that matches the shape of a front
portion of the peripheral side wall SW, to a height less than 1/2
of the height of the peripheral side wall SW, to be freely lifted
and dropped on the front surface of the smoothed tablet but indexed
to it as the front rim portion 303 engages the entire upper side
wall SW near the front surface. The front clam shell 300 of this
embodiment need not clip or snap "into" the tablet smartphone SP
other than at the bottom clip (discussed below)
[0050] To provide structural strength in ordinary use, the form
fitting front rim 303 extends into or joins an arch shaped rim
portion 304 extending from the form fitting front rim portion 303.
An arch shaped cross section 303 extends about substantially the
periphery of the front clamshell 300, giving the front clamshell
300 structural strength and helping the front clamshell 300 resist
twisting and other deformations. The rear clamshell 200, on the
other hand, resists such deformation by closely conforming the
entire wall 201-202 to the rear RS of the tablet smartphone SP.
[0051] The front clamshell 300 includes a planar sheet 302, formed
of dielectric plastic (e.g., transparent or smoked polycarbonate),
that covers the entirety of the flat touchscreen TS (optionally,
and as shown, the entirety of the front of the smartphone PS) and
is joined to the arch shaped rim portion 303 (again, helping
maintain stiffness and shape). The planar sheet 302, in the portion
covering the touchscreen TS, is formed in a shape and thickness
that substantially transmits the shape of a capacitive finger
contact patch through the planar sheet 302 to the touchscreen TS.
The planar sheet 302 may include a thicker planar portion 310
(e.g., 1 mm to 2 mm thick) in areas of the front of the smartphone
that have no capacitive sensing capability and a thinner planar
portion 312 (e.g., 1/2 or 20/1000 inch thick) in areas that are
capacitively responsive (as shown); it may include through-holes in
the shape of pres sable buttons or other mechanical inputs; or to
expose ports such as docking, interface, headphone; or to expose
speaker and/or microphone (as shown). Note the rear clamshell
portion 201 may also include such through holes (e.g., for a
camera).
[0052] Modern capacitive panels may not need particular electrical
characteristics to permit actuation, for example the panel
detecting anything other than air contact as an appropriate change
in capacitance indicating a potential touch. However, multitouch
panels that can obtain a matrix of contact pixels at different
locations include, in the phone's input software, filtering and
interpreting routines to exclude all but "finger" contact patches,
i.e., round or oval contact patches of the appropriate size and
other distinctive characteristics. Accordingly, preserving the
contact characteristics of the typical finger contact is necessary.
In order to do this, the panel 302 can be a plastic sheet of
appropriate thickness, but can also form a molded keyboard, a
movable keyboard, or another kind of molded or moving physical user
interface such as a guide, clicker, wheel, rocker, or the like.
[0053] One kind of molded keyboard 500 includes key target forms
501 in the shape of channels or troughs. The bottom of the trough
504 transmits a finger capacitive contact patch, and the walls 506
of the trough attenuates the finger contact patch at the edges of
the key (which discourages missing the virtual key intended and
activating the neighboring virtual key). In the case of a minimum
thickness at the bottom of the trough 504 and a maximum thickness
506 away from the key center, the user's finger F is encouraged to
create a contact patch in the middle of the corresponding virtual
key, which mechanically discourages false signals, actuating the
neighboring key, or actuating two keys at once.
[0054] One kind of mechanical keyboard 500 includes key target
forms 501 in the shape of keyboard keys. In this case, the keys can
be mounted resiliently or with other travel mechanism, and an air
gap can provide the attenuation at the edge of the contact patch.
Optionally, a clicking mechanism or snap dome may be part of the
stack assembly from front planar sheet to touchscreen.
[0055] The front clamshell 300 has a locking clip 320 formed at a
bottom portion of the second rim portion proximate the location of
the docking port DP, that engages with a cavity in the docking port
DP and is deformable to disengage the front clamshell 300 from the
smoothed tablet. The locking clip 320 may alternatively have a
locking hinge mechanism, or engage a cavity or other engaging
member formed in the rear clamshell 200.
[0056] At the top of the front clam shell 300, a second hinge
mechanism 330 having a second degree of freedom is located. A
substantially rigid linking member 400 or web forms a reversible
wrapping linkage by connecting the first and second hinged
mechanisms 203, 330. Wrapping, in this context, indicates that the
front clam shell 300 can be wrapped or swung parallel to the front
as well as to the back of the body of the tablet smartphone SP,
which, as noted, lets the external cover 100 act as a stand in both
portrait and landscape orientations. In other words, the dual
parallel hinges 203, 330 (alternatively one at the side and one at
the phone edge) would permit a rigid web to bend around the front
and back of the phone, forming an L (or U) shape in each direction,
but in opposite ways.
[0057] FIGS. 5A-5C are a perspective views of an example of such a
hinge or web of one embodiment of the present invention. As shown
in FIG. 5A, as connected, in FIG. 5B, exploded, and in FIG. 5C, in
cross section, the linking member or web 400 connects a
substantially c-shaped three finger channel 401 to a rear clamshell
pin 240, and a similar C-shaped three finger channel 402 to a front
clamshell pin 340. Each engaged pin and finger mechanism permits a
full range of rotation; resists twisting; and can be snapped on and
off at either end. The motions permitted by the resulting double
hinge are shown and discussed below with reference to FIGS.
8A-8D.
[0058] It is helpful that the wrapping and unwrapping can be done
with at least thumb and forefinger of one hand, else the obstacle
to rapid, convenient use is likely bothersome and inelegant.
Because it is a more natural motion to unlock a box or clamshell
from the bottom using a hinge 203, 330 at the top, it would be
better for this purpose to hinge 203, 330 the panel 300 at the top
(top side of phone SP in image, right side of phone SP when the
phone SP is in portrait orientation) and lock it at the bottom.
Locking for a flexible or elastomeric clamshell may encompass
wrapping twice or wrapping and clinging, if the adhesion or
retention is sufficient to permit the keyboard to stay in place
while typing.
[0059] It is would also be helpful that the unwrapped or stowed
front clamshell 300 or panel (e.g., wrapped to or stowed on the non
touchscreen TS side) smoothly integrates with the body of the rear
clamshell 200 or smartphone SP. Hence, the housing that supports
the panel 300 (e.g., the back clamshell 200) ideally has a form
fitting receptacle in which the front panel 300 is docked, and the
front panel 300 may be flexible enough to bend to fit within the
receptacle. In the case of a front clamshell 300, the form fitting
rim portion 303 may be elastomeric and wrap in an opposite
direction, leaving the arch shaped rim 304 (or a tubular or metal
wire rim) for structural strength. The invention is contemplated to
include both ideal and preferred embodiments.
[0060] This is an "aftermarket` addition to the basic phone SP. The
examples discussed above may be modified to cover the entire
touchscreen TS excepting the subwindow SW or area where text
appears as it is typed. The window can be a hole, or a thinner
region of plastic 311, changing materials in the window material or
layering a more rigid material is a less desirable but alternative
embodiment. As noted, a mechanism 320 for hasp or click-locking the
panel to the face can be included (which could be wrapped around
the side or top side). One example 320, noted above, engages with
the depressions, cavities, pins, or other parts of the bottom
docking mechanism DP. Other typical lock/connector/snap mechanisms
would be, e.g., concentric cylindrical pill-box shaped interlocking
depressions or protrusions (like on a coffee cup lid), simple
flexible type hasps. Alternatively, if sufficient electrostatic or
attractive charge or adhesive or clinging properties can be
embedded in the panel material, the panel may lay against the
touchscreen and adhere there in the same manner as static or
clinging plastic films using plasticizers. Not a particularly large
amount of resistance to shear or displacement is needed; the manner
of adhesion cannot disrupt the capacitive multitouch.
[0061] As shown in FIG. 6, the hinge mechanism including the web
400 permits the assembled overlay device 100 and smartphone SP to
be used as an A-Frame or U-Frame smartphone stand for passive,
non-keyboarding activities. As shown in FIG. 7A, this is effective
in a portrait orientation (e.g., at bedside as an alarm clock, as a
hands-free telephone). As shown in FIG. 7B, this is also effective
in a landscape orientation (e.g., to show TV shows or movies).
[0062] FIGS. 8A-8H show differing stages of clamshell use. FIG. 8A
shows the front clamshell 300 clipped to the rear clamshell 200 via
the clip 320 engaging the docking port DP (alternatively the rear
clamshell 200, exposing the entirety of the docking port DP). FIG.
8B through 8G show transitional positions as the front clamshell
300 is unclipped, lifted overtop of the rear clamshell 200,
positioned behind the rear clamshell 300 (including the position
useful as a display stand in portrait and landscape orientations)
and finally the front clamshell 300 is roughly parallel to the rear
clamshell 200 on the rear side of the smartphone SP. FIG. 8D
depicts the front clamshell 200 and hinge member 400 unclipped from
the hinge blister 203, such that the rear clamshell itself 200
becomes a standalone rear cover; and such that the user may
exchange different front clamshells 300. As discussed herein, the
combination or kit of a common rear clamshell 200, a first front
clamshell 300 having a completely flat, capacitive pass-through
planar front transparent panel (no keyboard) readily clipped to the
hinge of the rear clamshell, and a second front clamshell having a
keyboard formed in, on, or with the clamshell that is also readily
clipped to the same hinge is contemplated as an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0063] After the keyboard panel or front clamshell 300 is locked in
place over the touchpanel TS, typing is done in two hands with both
thumbs, "blackberry.TM. style", and use of the wrap or front
clamshell 300 usually would be limited to particularly lengthy
missives or an email session of answering several emails in a row.
For this reason, the wrap or front clamshell 300 should take less
than a second to secure in a stowed or use position.
[0064] The planar sheet 302 may be transparent polycarbonate of
substantially 20/1000 minimum thickness.
[0065] One variation includes a landscape form keyboard shape 500
formed in the polycarbonate planar sheet 302, including key target
forms 501 located in positions on the touchscreen TS substantially
indexed individually to corresponding keys VKB-B of a virtual
landscape keyboard VKB displayed on the touchscreen TS underneath
the (e.g., polycarbonate) planar sheet 302, such that letter and
symbol indicia of the keyboard VKB are displayed through the key
target forms 501. Alternatively, the keyboard shape may be opaque,
with each key's QWERTY letter embossed, silk screened, or otherwise
indicated on or in the the key target forms.
[0066] At least one key target form 509 may be located in a
positions on the touchscreen indexed to more than one corresponding
key (e.g., .COM key or spacebar in different positions on an
iPhone.TM.) of more than one virtual landscape keyboard VKB
displayable on the touchscreen TS underneath the planar sheet 302,
such that a same key target form 509 extends across different
letter and symbol indicia of different keyboards VKB displayable
through the key target form 509.
[0067] As shown, the key target form 501 is an elongated
channel-shaped cavity or trough, having a minimum thickness 504
substantially in the center thereof that substantially transmits
the shape of a capacitive finger contact patch through the planar
sheet 302 to the touchscreen TS, and walls 506 surrounding the
minimum thickness that attenuate the edges of the shape of a
capacitive contact patch through the planar sheet 302 to the touch
screen TS.
[0068] Alternatively, the key target form may be a key shape having
a minimum thickness substantially in the center thereof that
substantially transmits the shape of a capacitive finger contact
patch through the key shape, surrounded by a partial air gap that
attenuate the edges of the shape of a capacitive contact patch
through the planar sheet to the touch screen.
[0069] In this case, a snap dome mechanism may intervene between
the key shape and substantially transmits the shape of a capacitive
finger contact patch therethrough.
[0070] As shown in FIGS. 9A-9D, different techniques apply for
substantially transmitting the shape of a capacitive finger contact
patch, and, at the same time, improving the localizing of a user's
finger to the center of the corresponding key location on the
virtual keyboard VKB.
[0071] FIG. 9A shows the technique that is also shown in FIGS. 1-7.
In this technique, each key target form 501 is an elongated
channel-shaped cavity or trough, having a minimum thickness 504
(preferably in the 1/2 mm, 20/1000 inch range) substantially in the
center thereof that substantially transmits the shape of a
capacitive finger contact patch through the planar sheet 302 to the
touchscreen TS, and walls 506 (preferably in the 1-2 mm range)
surrounding the minimum thickness of that attenuate the edges of
the shape of a capacitive contact patch through the planar sheet
302 to the touch screen TS. The user's finger F conforms to the
shape of the trough, which may have a flattened bottom. The walls
of the trough guide the user's finger F to the center of the
corresponding virtual key VKB-B of the virtual keyboardSide to
side, the key target forms may be separated by barrier walls (also
1-2 mm thick, but with more vertical walls, as show in the
remaining Figures).
[0072] FIG. 9B shows an alternative technique. In this technique,
each key target form 501 is a raised key cap 511, having a minimum
thickness 508 (preferably in the 1/2 mm, 20/1000 inch range)
substantially in the center thereof that substantially transmits
the shape of a capacitive finger contact patch. Channels 510
separate the key caps 511 and encourage the air gaps 510 between
the finger F and the keyboard 500. To the extent that it is
difficult to mold plastic thinner than 1/2 mm, the key caps 501 may
be adhered or thermoset to a thin sheet of film stock. The user's
finger F tends to strike top dead center of the button cap 511
(especially with more curvature) and miss the troughs 510, and
flatten to conform to the top of the button to create the
characteristic contact patch.
[0073] As shown in each of FIGS. 9A and 9B, the panel 500, keys
501, and/or thinner region 311 are slightly suspended above the
touchscreen, and when a key is pressed, the plastic deforms and
reproduces a circular or oval finger contact patch. The full
contact area may be larger than that shown; inasmuch as the
software of the touchpanel may recognize fingers and reject styli
and other small contacts, it may be more important to reproduce the
expected capacitive signal (patch).
[0074] FIGS. 9C and 9D shows further alternative technique. In FIG.
9C, each key cap 511 is suspended atop or attached to a transparent
dome switch 513 of compliant elastomer or sufficiently elastic
plastic, which deforms to provide tactile feedback and may click as
the button 511 is depressed. The material of the dome 513 need not
be conductive, but must reproduce the expected capacitive profile
of a finger F contract patch when stacked and depressed as shown.
In FIG. 9D, the key caps 511 are affixed to and suspended by an
elastomer sheet 515 that deforms. The user's finger F tends to
strike top dead center of the button cap 511 (especially with more
curvature) and localize more distinctly as the key 511 is
pressed.
[0075] Alternative 1
[0076] A further variant would be substantially more rigid for the
keyboard overlay panel, and more of a flip cover keyboard than a
wrap keyboard. A rectangular panel would cover only the virtual
keyboard space. Within the panel, a subpanel sheet, e.g.,
substantially 1 mm or thinner, includes dome keys. These keys match
the position, size, and shape of the virtual keyboard keys. The
subpanel may be opaque and formed from thin metal or rigid plastic
in the manner of many slide out keyboards. It may be clear and
flat, with each key having an indented border from the top side and
a dome cavity in the underside. The subpanel may be bordered by a
rigid plastic or metal frame. The frame may attach to the side
support area, discussed above, of a housing for the entire phone.
The attachment would be an arm or web connector. If the web
attaching the side support area of the housing to the frame, panel,
or subpanel is particularly flexible (e.g., as flexible as 1/2 mm
thick silicone sheet), then it would permit sharp bending at the
side support area as well as sharp bends to follow the contour of
the phone edge. If the web were thicker or more rigid plastic such
as nylon or pvc, or a thin metal sheet, and bent in a curve around
the phone edge, an actual plastic or metal hinge extending along
the side would permit the panel rectangle to flip from phone back
to phone front.
[0077] Alternative 2
[0078] A very streamlined variation is a rectangular
keyboard-shaped film with sufficient adhesion and re-adhesion to
stick to the back of the phone while unused, but easily removed and
restuck to the touchpanel, having electrical characteristics
sufficient to activate the virtual keyboard buttons via a finger
press and enough button outline (raised) and travel (not
compression, actual key travel through air against bias) to "feel
like" at least a dome-switch keyboard, preferably with enough
detent bend in the upward bias to "click over" when pressed. If
flat enough, this variant, could be made into business cards or
promotional cards.
[0079] Alternative 3
[0080] In another alternative, the panel is roughly 20 thousands of
an inch to 40 thousands of an inch or 1/2 to 1 mm thick (with
raised keys), but thinner at the hinge (where hinge also means
flexible joint). This variation opens the front panel (clamshell)
like a book. A piano hinge (extended flexible joint) would extend
along the side of the phone nearest the display area of the virtual
keyboard. At the other end of the panel, a wrappable lock tab would
secure the top of the panel to a connector or lock the side of the
phone opposite the keyboard (top of the phone in the photo
above).
[0081] A further variation of the book-style reduces the front
panel size, and may include: a neoprene or black plastic
housing/casing, a web at a side edge connected to a metal or
otherwise stiff frame for a subpanel, and each button in a clear
subpanel both domed in the center of the button (for tactile key
response and key location) and recessed at the edges of the button
from the subpanel face (to preserve contour). "Subpanel" means a
panel smaller than the touchscreen of the phone. Such as rigid
rectangular frame can readily fit into a receiving receptacle
formed into the housing of the cover, on the back of the phone,
surrounding the phone's own housing. In this position, the bottom
of the keys are visible, but do not particularly disturb the
contour of the phone. The frame can be provided with a finger or
thumb tab to permit it to be readily extracted from the back
receptacle or flipped front to back and vice versa.
[0082] Alternative 4
[0083] In the context of a tablet shaped telephone including no
mechanical QWERTY keyboard of any kind, Alternative 4 is a flexible
keyboard panel, made of sufficient amounts of elastomer or with
sufficient flexibility flatten to and partially cover the portion
of a capacitive touchscreen, particularly an iPhone style
multitouch capacitive touchscreen. The panel flattens to and
partially cover the portion of a capacitive touchscreen in the
portion where a keyboard appears when typing applications are in
use. The panel integrates with the form and lines of a casing,
housing, sleeve, jacket used to house the phone and support the
panel.
[0084] The panel does not obscure the typing area where letters
appear. The panel includes button elements that cover each button
and approximate the shape of each button in the on-screen virtual
keyboard; are sufficiently raised from the surface to permit key
travel in the manner of membrane keyboards, preferably with air
space between the button and the touchscreen;are biased up by
elastomer around the button rim to return after travelling down
when pressed; and permits finger actuation of the button to
inherently activate the corresponding area on the capacitive touch
panel (when one presses the button, it does not actuate the virtual
keyboard button until there is a tactile press and travel down to
the touchscreen, whereupon the electrical connection, conductance,
or capacitance from a finger via the button to the touchscreen
activates the coordinates on the touchscreen panel and thereby the
virtual keyboard button.
[0085] This is an "aftermarket` addition to the basic phone. An
example covers the entire touchscreen excepting a window where type
appears as it is typed. The window can be a hole. In one example,
the panel is roughly 1/2 to 1 mm thick (with raised keys). After
the keyboard is locked in place over the panel, typing is done in
two hands with both thumbs, blackberry style, and use usually would
be limited to particularly lengthy missives or an email session of
answering several emails in a row. For this reason, the wrap should
take less than a second to secure in a stowed or use position. The
panel may have enough button outline (raised) and travel (not
compression, actual key travel through air against bias) to "feel
like" at least a dome-switch keyboard, preferably with enough
detent bend in the upward bias to "click over" when pressed. A
portrait mode device would have its keyboard and window arranged
for the portrait mode keyboard.
[0086] Alternative 5
[0087] For a touchscreen panel like the Blackberry Storm 2, which
has four piezoelectric sensors in each corner to provide tactile
feedback in the form of capacitive panel travel and/or clicking
sounds and or feeling (via piezo actuation), an alternative
embodiment would provide an elastomeric border around the keyboard
panel 500 (to travel with the screen). Otherwise, the benefits in
improving the localizing of a user's fingers by the "wall" approach
or the "dome" approach are substantially similar. In this case,
there is no particular need to include dome-switch capability.
[0088] Alternative 6
[0089] The rear clamshell 200 may be provided with a guide channel
extending in the lengthwise direction, which receives a metal plate
with a keyhole therein in the shape of a traditional "church key"
bottle opener. The metal plate church key opener is slid with the
thumb along the guide to a position extending beyond the top of the
smart phone SP, where it is used to open bottles, then restored to
a conforming position. The same structure, suitably dimensioned,
can be used to store a credit-card pocket knife of the
Swisscard.TM. type.
[0090] Alternative 7
[0091] FIGS. 10A-10D show alternative overlays for virtual input
interface elements, including a prose keyboard, a calculator
keyboard, a handheld game console input panel, and one common MP3
player input panel.
[0092] FIG. 10A shows a keyboard overlay 100 and prose keyboard 500
discussed at length herein, away from the smartphone SP. In
contrast FIG. 10B represents a calculator keyboard 550 for a
financial calculator application (i.e., a virtual financial
calculator replicating the functionality and appearance of a real
world calculator, displayed and controlled as a software
application targeted at the touchscreen), with keys arranged in a
pattern matching the underlying application's graphical user
interface representation of keys (VKB) and display area (SW). The
key target forms of the overlay's calculator keys may be of
identical or scaled physical structure to that disclosed herein. In
this case, for example, an accountant may make use of the virtual
financial calculator with frequency, and find the physical keyboard
overlay to improve key response and use of the financial calculator
application.
[0093] FIG. 10C represents a calculator keyboard 550 for a handheld
game console input panel (i.e., a virtual handheld game console
such as a Nintendo Gameboy, DS, or Playstation Portable,
replicating the functionality and appearance of a real world
handheld game console, displayed and controlled as a software
application targeted at the touchscreen), with interface elements
including keys arranged in a pattern matching the underlying
application's graphical user interface representation of keys (VKB)
and display area (SW). The key target forms of the overlay's
buttons may be of identical or scaled physical structure to that
disclosed herein. The directional pad (D-Pad) of such a device may
simply have four key target forms, or may be more closely simulated
(e.g., by providing a round disk or cross element of thin plastic
capable of transmitting finger contract patches, supported by a
central rocker or pivot, such that a larger air space is created
underneath the four poles of the D-Pad, and each direction may be
pressed down against resilient connection to the thin panel (under
each D-Pad pole, or connecting the D-Pad element to the panel).
[0094] FIG. 10D represents common MP3 player input panel 560 (i.e.,
a virtual handheld MP3 player such as an Apple Corporation iPod
Classic, replicating the functionality and appearance of a real
world handheld MP3 player, displayed and controlled as a software
application targeted at the touchscreen), with interface elements
including a touch wheel arranged in a pattern matching the
underlying application's graphical user interface representation of
keys (VKB) and display area (SW). The key target forms of the
overlay's keys may be of identical or scaled physical structure to
that disclosed herein. The touch wheel may be closely simulated
(e.g., by providing a round annular depression that guides the
user's thumb for one handed operation).
[0095] FIGS. 10A-10D together show that the approach detailed
herein for prose keyboards extends to other virtual keyboards and
physical input mechanisms simulated by applications displaying
virtual versions of such real world input elements. As discussed
herein, the language "button" or "key" is considered to include
buttons, keys, rocker buttons, "D-pad" elements, slider and wheel
elements, in each of virtually displayed and physically overlayed
key target forms.
Conclusion
[0096] It should be noted that the present invention expressly
contemplates combinations of features of each disclosed
alternative. For example, the subpanel of alternative 3 may be
included as a portion of the front clamshell as disclosed. Linking
members or webs, as well as side walls and other rim elements, may
be replaced with elastomeric or flexible elements as described.
[0097] The present disclosure gives as examples smartphones in the
form of smoothed tablet without a mechanical keyboard, e.g. Apple
Corporation iPhone, Research in Motion Blackberry Storm & Storm
2, Palm Pre, Google Android devices of similar form factor. The
term "smartphone" and the tablet form also expressly describes
similar devices that lack cell phone capability, but otherwise
share electronics and operating system features and lack a physical
or mechanical keyboard, such as the Apple Corporation iPod Touch,
or similar devices of larger scale (e.g., B5 or A4 sized
devices).
[0098] The present disclosure gives as examples a capacitive
multitouch touchscreen. While there are particular synergies with
this hardware with many features of the present embodiments as
disclosed herein, alternative interaction modes (piezo actuation,
resistive actuation) may also work with some embodiments described
herein, and are not excluded from the contemplated invention.
* * * * *